Boko haram

to many people living in the north and especially in the north eastern part of Nigeria is not a new word, and if at all it is, the recent festival of killings by security forces in some northern states under the genocidal directive of our inert-turn-active president and C-in-C of the armed forces of Nigeria, Mr. Umaru Musa Yar’adua is branding enough.

The word “Boko Haram” is coined from the combination of two words, Boko-a Hausa word for the type of education introduced by Europeans and Haram, an Arabic word meaning forbidden. By this literal definition, one does not need to be a historian to be able to mark out where the wind blows from.

In order to have a clear understanding of the whole issue, there is the need to dig down in to the origin and concept of the doctrine of “Boko Haram“.

In pursuance of the truth, and for the sake of posterity, common sense will need to assess the alleged crime(s) of the proponents of the ideology of Boko haram, and the action of Mr. President and his security forces, the media reaction to the event of the massacre, the role of other Islamic clerics, the northern leaders, politicians and the general public vis-à-vis Yar’adua’s concept of the rule of law.

ORIGIN

The word Boko Haram may be seen as new from a shallow perspective, but the concept started off from northern Nigeria when Europeans under the pretext of colonialism began to play double cards, by introducing their type of education along side Christianity in the Muslim dominated north that was already operating on sound Islamic jurisdiction, distinctive societal values and administration, as well as comprehensive Islamic educational system due to long time romance with the Arab world and the effects of the 19th century Islamic Jihad led by Sheik Usman bin fodio.

As a result of what the Northerners perceived as a ploy by Europeans to rubbish their religious values and replace it with Christianity in the first instance, and the ample evidences of practical steps to mask-and-serve Christianity in western education by Christian missionaries, the northern Muslims began to declare that the education the Europeans claimed to be dispensing called Boko is Haram or forbidden.

Owing to this clash of dissimilar ideologies between Christian imperialists and the Northern Muslim communities, many parents had to withdraw and hid their children in order to save their belief and moral values from being contaminated. In some instances, it was agreed that this event is one of the major reasons behind the north’s poor participation in “western education” today.

After more than a century, those olden days local Muslim folks that resisted Boko (Western education) in the north, and without foot dragging declared it Haram, are today being vindicated by the attitude of our Boko trained workforce.

 

Over the years, Nigerian graduates of Boko (Western education) in almost all works of life have proved beyond any doubt that they are self centered and irresponsible in their conducts. They are the looters of public treasury, tacticians of bribery and corruption, promoters of injustice, election riggers, liars and assassinators.

The Boko products are always fond of shying-away from their responsibilities; as such when they make laws, they become the first to break them, and no one has the authority to challenge them. Trickery and prostitution were totally rejected by the society only before it received the impetus of the Boko people, now these taboos are well recognised as part of our white collar professionals.

When they take public office, they take oath of office with Quran or Bible to protect and implement the provision of their own personal desires put together as “constitution”, and forgets about upholding to divine injunctions contained in those holy books for the good of all mankind.

 

 

WHY SHEIK MUHAMMAD YUSUF ADVOCATED THAT BOKO IS HARAM

Although both the Nineteenth century and today’s Muhammad Yusuf’s concept of Boko is Haram are essentially the same. The mechanisms of Yusuf’s argument are derived from the obvious anomalies stated in the three preceding paragraphs.

Analysis of both ideologies indicates that Boko haram proponents appreciate the contribution of science and technology to human development

 

(Muhammad Yusuf travel around the north in Car and not on Camel, he used mobile phones as well as microphone during preaching, he record his preaching in audio tapes e.t.c.)

and the need for Muslims to acquire it through any means that does not compromise the injunctions of Almighty Allah upon mankind.

 

 

 

 

 

To every right thinking mind, this has never been and cannot be tantamount to declaration of any agenda seeking to prohibit Muslims or other group of people from struggling to acquire the so called Western education. Boko haram is a simple protest over the perceived and apparent moral decay associated with Western educational system, and the need to indoctrinate the fear of Allah alone and de-emphasize the pursuance of evil principles and practices that tow the system and our life style in the negative direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pitifully, this is the simple justice that many people couldn’t do to Muhammad Yusuf’s profound argument on Western education system. Simply because the man does not agree to decorating a fraudulent empire!

For instance, Allah has forbidden any gathering what so ever, where men and women mingle freely in the same environment except under transient abnormal circumstances that one doesn’t have any control over. If you are a Muslim, kindly ask your self, what do we have in our universities and who said it shall be like that? Allah has indeed commanded, and they also have commanded, but we intentionally decided on their scheme. Gentlemen, is it not right for us to be specific on who our Lord is? This and the absence of God in science and politics are exactly what Yusuf arguments on Boko are all about. Could he be wrong? Let us ask ourselves first!

 

THE YUSUF APPROACH

Sheik Muhammad Yusuf looked around for remedy against the evils associated with our educational system, against the evil of election riggers, against the evils of corrupt judges, against the evils of our security organizations (who joyfully killed hundreds of Muslims in Jos and other parts of the country over the years), against the evils of treasury looters, against perversion by some Muslims and traditional rulers (who benefits from the 19th Century Jihad), against the architects of divide and rule, opportunism, nepotism and sectionalism, but found it no where within the sphere of the Westerly influenced system.

This is because from the parliament to judiciary, to Executive and the securities, they are all products of the same rotten Boko system. What we sow is what we shall reap. The Western education is wrapped-and-served in a corrupt secular ethics and so it products shall operate.

In this type of system, authorities cannot provide anything meaningful for their subjects; rather they will resort to playing with human psyche, organizing foot ball, music, beauty pageant, carnivals and many other types of diversionary events. If these authorities are responsible they couldn’t fly abroad just to check their BP, while other citizens are at the mercy of decayed infrastructures.

Yusuf began to device and implement what he believes is the best solution to counter the mess of our own brand of westernization. First, he started by enjoining people to do only those things approved by Allah no matter how such may appear in the eyes of the custodians of corruption, and keep away from anything disapproved by Allah (including free mingling between men and women as is the case in our educational institutions) no matter the material benefits attached. He urged Muslims to stick to the Quran and the Hadith of the Prophet, reading it constantly, memorizing it, understanding it and putting it into practice. He admonished Muslims to shun all kinds of religious innovations (shirk). He called who ever care, to migrate (Hijra) away from the evils being perpetrated in the main stream of our society, at least to a sanctuary, where they can practice Islam as commanded by Allah SWT and exemplified by Prophet Muhammad peace and be upon Him.

Certainly Prophet Muhammad SAW has enjoined Muslims on importance of military training and the need to keep arms at all times. Unlike other Muslims, Sheik Muhammad Yusuf did not ignore this particular command of the Prophet SAW.

Muhammad Yusuf and his followers are armed and are trained just like the Niger Delta militants, like the OPC of the blessed memory, like the Bakasi Boys, the MOSSOP of the Ibo land and the mother of intelligence gathering (the CAN), who first announced in 2002 that some Muslim clerics were planning to attack military formations in Nigeria

. All these groups are involved in confrontational business at one time or the other. Why the house-to-house massacre of Muhammad Yusuf and his followers in the era of the rule of law?

Others may think that Yusuf and his followers were wrong for carrying arms against the state, and they could have remained within the system and fight for political and social reforms. Of course you may be right, but where is Nuhu Ribadu and Sheik Ja’afar Mahmud today? Both of them worked tirelessly from within the same system that eliminated them. During their times, they created all sorts of ripples in order to capsize the Ship of injustice but all in vain. Only the naives can tread this path again.

THE MASSACRE THEATER

The theater was widely publicized by both government controlled and private media, including some non-commissioned gossipers through phone calls, throughout the days of the game. I want to believe that people all over the world are fully awakened by the events, and therefore there is no need for repeat broadcast.

However, many of us were so overwhelm by the Nigerian security forces apparent demonstration of cruelty, and the elaborate media coverage the event enjoyed, as if it was intended to showcase the practicability of some particular Nazi theories on Nigerian citizens. We just couldn’t remember to ask ourselves some simple but basic questions. These questions we must ask ourselves here Allah’s willing (Insha Allah) before we finally all meet our creator on the judgment day.

Before the media could be briefed on the type of publicity they could give the event on that fateful day, 26th July, 2009, the information has already began to spread. Later in the afternoon, the trouble escalated, before the close of the day, over 100 people suspected to be sharing the ideology of Boko haram were killed by Police and the Army in less than fifteen hours, with some outrageous figures of mass arrests.

The same incidence occurred in Maiduguri, in Potiskum and other northern towns and cities. When Yusuf and his lieutenants were over powered the subsequent days, the death toll was already on four digits. Unlike Government Tompolo or Tom Ateke, Muhammad Yusuf was not declared wanted death or alive. Eventually, he was caught alive by the Army and handed over to Police authorities alive. Shortly after, the Police remembered Yar’adua’s directive (”TAKE WHAT EVER MEASURE YOU FEEL IS NECESSARY”) and saw it was necessary to kill him right away without being tried. They gave him multiple shots at close range, and declared him death. What are they trying to cover?

Initially, the news of the death toll seemed unreliable, later in the night, the largest TV network in the continent (NTA) used their largest camera to capture and displayed hundreds of dead bodies massacre by Nigerian security forces without editing. Other media outfits both local and international did same. Is the NTA now trying to play transparent journalism with the Muslims’ death? How many death bodies of the Niger Delta militants NTA or any other media outfit showed during the JTF May, 2009 cordon and search operation in Gbaramatu kingdom and its environs? Why this partiality? Even the US, the biggest foe of the Islamists, never advertises their military strength with the remains of the Taliban killed in their campaign in Helmand province.

The courage of President Yar’adua in dealing with the BOKO HARAM proponents ruthlessly, by instructing his security forces to TAKE WHAT EVER MEASURE THEY FEEL IS NECESSARY to crush them was so unique and unusual. At the same time Mr. President has prepared a bed of roses for the notorious Niger Delta militants, who killed the police and the Army in their Hundreds over the years, caused multi billion Dollar havoc and lost of investment to Nigeria’s only means of survival, INTRODUCED THE CONCEPT OF KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM IS HALAL (approved) and almost crippled the maritime industry.

This is incomprehensible; this is hypocrisy, this is injustice and a total bridge of trust. Is this the road map to 2011 or one of the hurdles that must be crossed in order for Nigeria to host a world football competition?

In Bauchi for example, only few out of the over one hundred killed where neutralized in active combat, over 60% of the killings was done on house-to-house meet and hit clearance operation under the orders of the President’s treacherous son in-law. Some were first arrested by security agents, and then later shot dead. Because the rule of engagement spelled “TAKE WHATEVER MEASURE YOU LIKE”, the security forces operated out of combat ethics and demonstrated a sort of marketplace discipline. It was just like a vengeful operation.

Action and reaction showed that the entire senate and the national assembly were in full support of the massacre of Boko haram people, unlike the Niger Delta case, where some senators were ready to get physical in the interest of some broad daylight criminals. Obviously, the northern politicians know that they can’t hire Boko haram people to rig election, as was the case with the Niger Delta militants. You see the attitude of the products of contaminated social (Boko) system, SELF-CENTEREDNESS! Even in this case, those who said Boko is haram are already vindicated. Northern Senators and Reps’ (the custodians of Yan sara suka, Kalare, Yan daba & Area Boys) spurious comments on the issue was more disgracing, one could see a lot of Dan Giwa Umar amongst them, only that they don’t have Dan Giwa’s temerity to publicly declare that they regretted having been born Muslims. They seem proudly Democrats and timidly Muslims. SUB-HANALLAH!

Action and reaction showed that the northern emirs, without apology to the Sultan are quite supportive of the action taken against their own subjects, who voiced out their desire for change. Your Royal Highnesses, nothing is permanent except change, and one day, change will surely come In-Sha Allah.

Northern emirs are beneficiaries of the courageous efforts of Sheik Usman bin Fodio’s 19th century Islamic jihad. Bin Fodio fought against the well established governments of the corrupt Habe dynasties, and Allah assisted him with victory although his troop’s strength was far less than those of the ruling Habe. Bin Fodio rode on horse back, and spread Islam and Sharia from Begel to Ilorin, from Gwandu to Egbede in the Auchi land. Today Northern Emirs have selfishly squalor the virtue of the Jihad that founded those Islamic ruling houses they occupy over the years, and are reduced to mere flamboyant hose riders, riding behind naked women during Abuja carnival. They are surely enjoying the proceeds of corruption, born out of the ever corrupt secular system. They can’t support a movement that will get them properly seated. May Allah help us.

In real sense, the Shehu of Borno and Suliemanu of Bauchi could have quickly interceded with the authorities to avert this ugly blood birth, and where the problem become mightier than their might, the Sultan of Sokoto can easily summon the entire northern Ulamas to water the activities of Muhammad Yusuf before the temperature shoot-up. But the treacherous Governors of Bauchi and Borno states are the prime movers of the massacre. Incidentally, these ruling houses of Shehu and Sule must bow to the might of their source of daily breads. Therefore, all these wisdoms of interceding, consultation, etc were dumped for carnage. Police and the Army where just watched, executing another version of the Yar’adua rule of law.

With due respect to your Royal highnesses, since it is apparent that you have choosen a secular system instead of Allah’s Sharia that founded your thrones, we will In-sha Allah turn the table around. Democracy shall prevail in your palaces. Any body with money and thugs in any emirate in the north will soon be qualified to contest and win or rig the position of the Sultan, the Emirs, the district heads, and any other title declared vacant. We will show you Boko In-sha Allah.

The Ulama’s were the most insincere this time around. Majority of them agreed with Muhammad Yusuf arguments on western education and the secular system for quite long, but are not courageous enough to tread his path. Instead of lending him some impetus at the time of need, they shy away out of jealousy and hypocrisy. When they were certain that Yusuf’s ship has wrecked, they began to chant a pro-government stigma against Muhammad Yusuf “that he doesn’t want the progress of mankind, he doesn’t want Muslims to acquire modern knowledge, his ideology is not Islamic” in order to sustain their daily bread. Is that Muhammad Yusuf argument? Let us be sincere and have some fear of Allah in our hearts please. Oh this world, where are you taking us to? We thought we have Muslim leaders, but they are more of sycophants.

 

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All thanks be to Allah for Islam, all thanks be to Allah for knowledge, all thanks be to Allah for health, all thanks be to Allah for the sustenance.

May Allah SWT forgive those Muslims who lost their lives, and give those left behind the fortitude to bear the hardship of living under imposed secularism.

I pray someone will remind the government to take full responsibilities of bringing up the children of those killed, to give them the type of education they choose, so that the children are not made to bear the “sins” of their late parents.

CHANGE CAN BE DEFERRED, BUT CANNOT BE STOPPED